|
|
 |
|
Viewing report
|
|
|
|
Technology Developments in Functional Proteomics (Technical Insights)
Frost & Sullivan, Sep 2006
This Frost & Sullivan research service titled Functional Proteomics provides an overview of enabling technologies in functional proteomics, along with a complete analysis of key market drivers, restraints, applications, and trends that are impacting the field. In this study, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the following applications: drug discovery, biomarkers, molecular diagnostics and antibody therapies, enabling technologies, spectometry, microarrays, electrophoresis, immunohistochemistry, yeast and viral expression and identification, affinity chromatography, and immunohistochemistry.
Market Sectors
Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following market sectors in this research:
- Drug discovery
- Biomarker identification
- Molecular diagnostics
- Antibody therapies
Technologies
The following technologies are covered in this research:
- 2D gel electrophoresis
- Spectrometry
- NMR
- Surface plasmon resonance
- Phage display
- Yeast 2-hybrid systems
- Bioinformatics microarrays
- Immunohistochemistry
- Affinity chromatography
- Sample preparation
Technology Overview
Development of Proteomics Leads to Success for Functional Proteomics
Despite various technological advancements, sequencing of the human genome has helped in identifying only a fraction of the proteins and genes implicated in diseases. Recent advances in functional proteomics technologies are helping researchers achieve a greater understanding of the role of protein-protein interactions and networks in disease. For example, a new sample-preparation technique reduces protein preparation time from 18 hours to 15 minutes, notes the analyst of the study. Protein microarray fabrication, once cumbersome and limited, will soon allow arraying of as many as 10,000 spots on a single chip. A nanospray platform for high-throughput mass spectrometry allows the analysis of complex protein mixtures, such as those found in human serum, to be miniaturized and accelerated. These critical technological advancements boost the image of proteomics.
Proteomics research is growing very fast. Nearly every major biotech and pharmaceuticals firm has now set up a proteomics program. Proteomics has been instrumental in discovery of ’biomarkers’, cellular molecules that are associated with the presence of a particular disease. Researchers previously assumed that proteins were isolated entities, acting independently of surrounding proteins. Today, we know that numerous cellular processes, controlled and carried out by proteins, are not the result of individual protein actions but by protein machines, or aggregates of many different proteins.
Targeting Specific Diseases Possible Through Functional Proteomics
Protein-protein interactions are not only one-to-one or pair-wise interactions. Sometimes, as many as 50 proteins can interact to form one large complex protein. These types of interactions make attractive drug targets for the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology industry. Protein-protein interactions are important in investigating intercellular and intracellular signaling pathways. For example, signals transmitted from the exterior of a cell to the inside by protein-protein interactions of the signaling molecules, traverse through receptors, and protein kinase cascades. Signaling pathways regulate cellular characteristics and processes such as physiology, proliferation, change in shape and motility, differentiation, adhesion, and intercellular interactions.
Protein-protein interactions are thought to be responsible for the development of pathological processes such as prion diseases and Alzheimer's disease. These interactions demonstrate great potential as new targets for novel drugs. Apart from basic research, the primary and certainly most potentially profitable application for functional proteomics research is drug discovery and development, notes the analyst. Functional proteomics can help in target identification and target validation. The hope is that this will ultimately lead to new drugs that target specific diseases.
|
|
|
|
